Street letter-box.



Patented Sept. 12,1899.

a. n; cLtlusE. STREET LETTER Box.

:Application filed Dec 6, 1897 (No Model.)

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- N0. 633,|O5. Patgntd Sept. l2, I899. J. N. CLOUSE.

STREET LETTER BOX.

' aApplication filed Dec. 6, 1897', 2 Sheets-Sheet I UNITE STATES PATENT 'OFEFIQE.

JOSEPH N. OLOUSE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF THREE-SIXTEENTHS TO HARRY R. IVADE,

NANCY I. BOWMAN, AND EDWIN D. CRAY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

STREET LETTER-BOX.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,105 dated September 12, 1899.

.Applioatiou filed December 6, 1897-. Serial No. 660,881. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH N. CLOUSE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at St.

' Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street Letter-Boxes; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to improvements in street letter-boxes; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangements of its parts as hereinafter described.

The object of my invention is to provide a street letter-box with a depositing mechanism said mechanism being located directly under the top of the box and practically leaving no space between the mechanism and the top of the box. Thus there is no waste of space in the interior of the box, and the entire capacity of the box may be utilized for the reception of mail-matter.

The further object of the invention is to provide a depositing mechanism with a pivoted chute, the said chute being closed on four sides and open at its longitudinal edges, the chute being longitudinally pivoted and when in a slanting posit-ion the lower open edge of the chute being covered by a concaved plate, said plate being stationary and arranged concentrically to the pivotal points of the chute. The chute is so located that when the lid of the box is open the upper longitudinal edge of the chute registers with the opening into the box. The mail thus being deposited in the chute and the chute being inclined the concaved plate at the opposite end of the chute retains the mail Within the chute. However, when thelid of the box is closed the chute'immediately assumes a perpendicular position and the opening at the lower longitudinal edgeof the chute passes beyondthe lower edge of the concaved plate, and as the mail contained within the chute is thus brought into a perpendicular position, and as there is no support at the lower edge of the chute when the chute is in an upright position the mail immediately drops into the body portion of the box without the least chance or slightest possibility of any pieces of the mail being caught or retained by the depositing mechanism.

The further object of the invention is to provide a device for regulating the size of the receiving-opening and to adapt the box for receiving letters only or for the reception of larger packages of mail-matter.

The further object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient box which will meet all requirements and which will be practically dustproof, waterproof, burglar-proof, and the like, and which will be convenient to operate in depositing mail into it and removing the mail from it.

The further object of the invention is to provide a registering device adapted to be attached to the inside of the box, one portion being located on the bottom and the other portion being attached to the apron of the door, the said portions being provided, respectively, with male and female dies, said dies being adapted to come together in such manner as to impress suitable letters or figures on a slip of paper. The slip of paper having been inserted in the register before the door is closed by the collector, it is impressed and remains in the register until the collector opens the box again and takes out the mail. He then takes out of the register the impressed slip and inserts a blank one. The impressed slip he returns to the office as a voucher to show that he has collected the mail from that box. The proper officers of the mail department issue to each of the collectors for each collection that he makes as many slips as there are boxes on his route, and it is therefore necessary that the collector should return a stamped slip to represent each box, the object of which is to insure the collection of the mail from each box or to detect the neglect of duty on the part of the collector.

The further object of theinvention is to provide a device for securely attaching the box to the post. This device consists of a plate provided with a perforation, the said perforation being adapted to receive suitable studs, the said studs being attached to the post and passing through perforations in the back of the box. The plates engaging the studs are located in the interior of the box.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the box. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the box. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lid. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the chute. Fig. (5 is a perspective view of the device for regulating the size of the opening of the box. Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the bracket used in the interior of the box. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of the back of the box, showing the device for attaching the box to the post. Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of the means for attaching the box to the post. Fig. 10is a plan view of a plate used in attaching the box to the post. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the registering device. Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the registering device. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the male and female dies used in the registering device.

The box 1 is provided at its upper rear edge with the suhstantially-semicylindrical compartment 2, said compartment extending about two-thirds of the distance across the top of the box. The entire depositing mechanism is located under the compartment 2. The box is made, preferably, of sheet-steel, joined together by rivets or other suitable fastening devices. The door 3 is arranged at the front of the box. Itis hinged at its lower edge to the bottom of the box, and is provided at its sides with substantially quadrant-shaped plates 4, said plates being adapted to prevent the mail from falling out of the hinged door when the latter is open and forms a shelf. The door is provided with a timecard-receiving opening 5, and it has suitable guides and back ing 6 at its inner face to receive such timecard, the guides and backing 6 being open at the top and forming a pocket. The card is adapted to show the time of collection of mail and such other information desired by the department. The lower front edge of the box is provided with a horizontal strip 7, said strip having at its upper edge a concavity 8. The horizontal rod 9 may or may not be pivotally secured at its ends in suitable perforations in the sides of the box. A slight space 10 is left between the inner face of the strip 7 and the flange 11 of the bottom of the box. The lower edge of the door 3 is provided with a horizontal concaved section 12, the concavity of the said section being adapted to receive the upper portion of the rod 9. The rod 9 forms a pivotal point for the door 3. The concaved sections 8 and 12 receive the said rod, and when the door is open, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the upper edge of the section 8 comes in contact with the lower edge of the door 3, and thus a partial stop for the door is provided. \Vhen the door is closed, should any moisture settle on the rod 9, said moisture entering in the space between the lower edge of the door-3 and the upper edge of the concaved section 8 is carried down and passed away from the box through the opening 10.

Each of the side plates 4 is provided on its edge with a protrusion 13. WVhen the door 3 is open,the protrusions 1313 are adapted to come in contact with the inner sides of the front of the box, and thus the outward hinged play of the door 3 is limited. Just below the protrusion 13 each of the side plates 4 is provided with a recess 14. When the door 3 is open, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the door may be lifted perpendicularly, the recesses 14 14 of the plates 4 receiving the lower edge of the front of the box, and thus the concave section 12 at the lower edge of the door is disengaged from the rod 9, and the door 3 and plates 4 4 may be removed from the box. By reversing the operation just described the door 3 and the plates 44 maybe attached in their proper positions to the box. The front of the box just above the upper edge of the door 3 is provided with a horizontal rib 15. Said rib is adapted to shed water and to prevent the same from percolating through the door or card-receiving opening, thereby rendering the box rainproof at that point.

The upper portion of the compartment 2 is provided with a receiving-opening 16. At the lower edge of the opening 16 the strip 17 is located, said strip being in the interior of the compartment 2. Said strip is provided with a concaved section 18. The chute 19 is pivotally attached at the points 20 to the ends of the compartment 2. The chute 19 is closed on four sides and is open at its upper and lower longitudinal edges. At the upper front edge of the chute the curved flange 21 is located and the links 22 are pivoted one at each end of the said flange 21. The upper ends of the links 22 are pivoted to the arms 23, the said arms 23 extending from the inner edge of the lid 24. The lid 24 is hinged to the compartment 2 directly under the rib 25, said rib extending all the way across the top of the compartment 2 and being adapted to prevent water from entering the letter-box at the point where the lid 24 is hinged to the compartment 2. The lower edge of the lid 24 is provided with a convexed section 26, said section at its inner edge adapted to rest on the strip 17, extending out from the compartment 2 and forming a guide to carry the edges of letters under the lid 24. The concaved plate 27 is located at the back of the compartment 2. The concavity of the plate 27 is concentric with the pivotal points 20 of the chute 19. The concavity of the section 18 of the strip 17 is also concentric with the pivotal points 20 of the chute 19. When the lid 24 is opened, as shown in heavy lines in Fig. 2, the lower open edge of the chute 19 is closed by the concaved plate 27, and the upper open edge of the said chute registers with the opening 16. Thus the pieces of mail are deposited in the inclined chute l9. \Vhen the lid 24 is dropped, the arms 23 carry the links 22 up, and this throws the chute 19 in substantially a perpendicular position, as ina perpendicular position, and as there is no .provided with a slot 38.

support for the mail it falls into the body of the box 1. When the lid 24 is closed, the flange 21 of the chute 19 extends across the receiving opening 16, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. The curved flange 21 renders the box burglar-proof when the lid 24 is closed, and it prevents letters from being extracted from the box by means of any instrument or device introduced through the receiving-opening 16.

In order to regulate the size of the receiving-opening 16 to adapt the box for letters only or for larger packages of mail-matter, an adjusting device is pivoted at each end in the interior of the compartment 2. The device 28 consists of the curved upper section 29, said section being interposed between the top of the compartment 2 and the pivoted chute 19. The rear edge of the section 29 is provided with the parallel recesses 30. The device 28 is pivoted at the points 31 to the sides of the extension 2, the device 28 surrounding the chute 19. The cross-rod 32 connects .the lower ends of the protrusions 33, said protrusions extending from the side pieces of the device 28. The eye of the pintle 34 receives the cross rod 32, as shown in detail in Fig. 6, the said pintle being threaded at its lower end and entering the threaded perforation of the thumb-nut 35. The said thumb-nut is provided with an annular groove 36. The bracket 37 is secured against the inner side of the front wall of the compartment 2. The horizontal portion of the said bracket 37 is The said slot 38.is adapted to receive the annular groove 36 of the thumb-nut 35. The extending edges of the thumb-nut 35 are adapted to come in contact with the upper and lower horizontal portion of the bracket 37, and thus the thumb-nut 35 is supported. By adjusting the nut 35 the lower edge of the section 29 may be moved to or from the strip 17 to vary the size of the receiving-openin g and partially close the mouth or entrance of the mail-depositing device. The rear edge of the lid 24 is provided with a series of rearwardly-extending pins 39. Each pin 39 is adapted to enter a recess 30 of the section 29 of the adjusting device 28. Thus the recesses 30 serve as guides for the pins 39.

It will be seen that the depositing device is comparatively simple in construction, that it is positively reliable in operation, and that it is adapted to be readily manipulated by one hand in depositing letters or packages into the box. It will also be seen that the box is dustproof, and that it will prevent letters from being extracted through the reeeiving-opening when the door is open or closed; that the said receiving-opening may be adjusted to permit letters only to be inserted in the box, and that it may be adjusted for the reception of larger packages of mailmatter.

I provide a device of special construction for securing the box to the post. In Fig. 2 of the drawings 40 represents the post. The studs 41 are fixed at their ends to the post 40. l The under sides of the heads of the studs 41 are beveled, as at 42. (See detail view, Fig. 8.) The back of the box 1 is provided with perforations 43, said perforations being adapted to receive the studs 41. The plate 44 is adapted to pass under the head of each stud 41 and secure the box to the post 40, (the plate 44 being located in theinterior of the box.) Each plate 44 is provided along its central axis with the perpendicular elongated perforation 45, the lower end of said perforation being enlarged, as at 46. On each side of the perforation 45 the plate 44 is increased in thickness toward the upper end, as shown in Fig. 8. Thus the upper beveled surface 47 is formed. Just below the enlarged perforation 46 the plate 44 is thickened, as at 48, and thus the plate 44 is strengthened at that point. In putting the plate in position, the head of the stud 41 is passed through the enlarged perforation 46. and the beveled surface 47 of the plate comes in contact with the beveled under sides 42 of the head of the stud. Thus the back of the box is clamped to the post 40.

The registering device consists of the arm 49, said arm being provided with the elongated perforations 50, the screws 51 passing through said perforations and securing the said arm 49 to the inner side of one of the plates 4. The female die 52 is provided with beveled edges and is slipped longitudinally between inclined protrusions at the lower end of the arm 49. The said die 52 is provided on its under side with a suitable character, the under side of the die 52 being horizontal. Thelower portion of the registering device consists of a casting 53, which is fixed to the bottom of the box. The male die 54 is also beveled at its longitudinal edges, and is slipped between the beveled surfaces of the casting 53. The upper ed ge of the casting 53 is provided with the guides 55, under which the ticket is slipped, said guides being adapted to hold the ticket between the dies 52 and 54. In placing the registering device in position the casting 53 is secured to the bottom and the arm 49 is secured to the plate 4, and by means of the elongated perforations the die in the arm 49 may be brought in the proper position above the die-in the casting 53. In the operation of The plate 44 is then slipped down the registering device the ticket is placed unacter on the ticket.

\Vhen the box is again opened by the collector, he removes the ticket with the impression thereon, together with the mail, and inserts a blank ticket instead.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a box having a receiving-opening an adjusting device pi votally mounted within the box, said device having asection adapted to extend under the opening of the box, a threaded pin swiveled to said device, a recessed nut engaging the said pin, a

' bracket fixed to a stationary point within the box, said bracket having a horizontal portion provided with a recess, the recess of the bracket adapted to receive the recess of the nut.

'2. In a box having a receiving-opening, an adjusting device pivotally mounted within the box, said device having a section located under the receiving-opening, arms extending from said device, a horizontal rod connecting said arms, a threaded pin having an eye, the eye of said pin receiving said horizontal rod, a nut adapted to work upon the said threaded pin, said nut having a recess, a bracket fixed to a stationary point within the box, said bracket having an elongated recess, the recess of the bracket adapted to receive the recess of the nut.

3. In combination with a box, a means for securing the box to a post consisting of studs fixed to the post, registering perforations located in the back of the box, the studs adapted to pass through said perforations, the under sides of the heads of the studs being beveled, plates having elongated perforations, enlarged perforations entering said elongated perforations, the heads of the studs adapted to pass through said enlarged perforations, inclined surfaces located at the sides of the elongated perforations, said inclined surfaces adapted to engage the beveled under sides of the heads of the studs and drive down to tighten the back of the box against the post.

4. In combination with a box, a means for securing the box to a post consisting of studs attached to the post, registering perforations in the back of the box, the studs adapted to pass through said perforations, plates having elongated perforations, enlarged perforations entering said elongated perforations, the heads of the studs adapted to pass through said enlarged perforations, the under sides of the heads of the studs being beveled, inclined surfaces located at the sides of the elongated perforations of the plate, the thickness of the plate being increased at the base of the enlarged perforation.

5. In combination with abox, a registering device consisting of a die attached to the bottom of the box, the box having a hinged door, the door having at its edge a plate, a die at tached to said plate, the two said dies adapted to coact with each other in impressing suitable characters on a strip.

6. In combination with a box having a hinged door, a plate located at the end of said door, a registering device consisting of a casting, said casting being secured to the bottom of the box, said casting having a suitable die, forwardly and inwardly extending guides attached to said casting, said guides adapted to receive a strip and hold the same above the die of the casting, an arm attached to the plate of the door, a horizontal die carried by said arm, the two said dies adapted to 00- act with each other in impressing suitable characters on the strip.

7. In combination with a box having a hinged door, a plate attached to the end of said door, a registering device consisting of a casting adapted to be attached to the bottom of the box, said casting having a suitable die and a suitable means for retaining a strip, an arm having elongated perforations, screws passing through said perforations and securing said arm to the plate of the door, a die carried by said arm, the two said dies adapted to coact with each other in impressing suitable characters on the strip.

,In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH N. CLOUSE.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH B. RYAN, JOHN A. SHEPARD. 

